Hey little sister (Galen, Jaime)

[Lovely]

Name: Jaime Langtre Aliases: Jai Location: Lawrence, Kansas played by: Lovely likeness used: Alicia Silverstone

--------------

Name: Galen O'Reilly Aliases: G Location: Lawrence, Kansas played by: Tripp likeness used: Jensen Ackles

[Lovely]

June 25, 2007
Lawrence, Kansas

Did sirens even matter anymore? He didn't care. The crowbar pulled the rusted screws out of the mortar and left enough room to bust the glass and reach the lock on the steel door. "Front woulda been a hell of a lot easier," he spat, licking the blood off the knuckle that scraped the shards as he pulled it back through the opening and pushed his way in. A quick glance over his shoulder and he was inside, closing the door and relocking it. The bars were already loose and it wouldn't take much for them to get in behind him. The closest piece of anything he could shred was taken off its rack and ripped to cover the wound as he worked his way toward the treasure trove of firearms out front, the crowbar in his hand clattering to the floor as he wrapped his hand up.

Jaime had come in through the front in much the same way the mystery man had gotten in the back, though it was alot easier for her as he'd thought it would be and quieter too. She had a bat in her hand taken from her brother's room days before, when she'd had to flee her home after it was.. invaded for lack of a better term. She had just been coming in when he came through the back so the noise he had made wasn't noticed at first as she crept in, looking around for signs of others and she heard the movement and the loud clatter. "Shit!" The exclaimation was out before she could stop it and she immediately ducked down, though she hadn't yelled, she could still have been heard.

The voice had him crouching to grab the bar off the floor and adjust the make-shift bandage for gripping ability, stretching the fabric across his knuckles as his fingers tightened around the metal. He focused on the sounds out front and kept his attention honed to more sounds behind him. "Sonofab*tch, I better not be surrounded," he hissed under his breath as he stopped at the doorway separating the shop area from this back room. He inched forward on slow, firmly planted and quiet steps that his boots usually didn't make and peered out carefully, not hearing the seething and hissing he'd gotten far too accustomed to running from recently. Maybe he was only hearing things.

Jaime stayed low and bit at her lower lip thinking 'shit sh*t shit sh*t..' and trying to think of something besides that to get herself out of a potentially deadly situation. "Okay.." She breathed out and carefully shifted into a crouch, she lifted the bat onto her shoulder poised to swing as she suddenly popped up to see what was out there. "I have a ..bat!"

He recognized her in that heartbeat, luckily for them both as his reflex to swing the crowbar was cut short before hitting her and his other hand blocked the bat.Those infected sons of b*tches didn't ever announce they were armed. They just twitched and attacked. She was still herself.. only a little more grown up. "Geeeeezus Jaime. I feel like we're playing f**k**g whack-a-mole. Gimme that." He said, trying to grab the bat from her hand. "Wait. Why do you have a bat and why are you here? Where's Jorden?" He has a sudden sick feeling he already knew that answer.

"Hey! That's mine! Get your own.." She protested as he tried to grab the bat, though she was glad he'd blocked her from swinging it into his skull. She'd always kind of thought it was a nice skull.. "It's to break the glass or defend myself." She motioned to the display case. "I'm here to get something better to defend myself with..." The bit of sass that had been in her seemed to suddenly evaporate and she was silent a moment, her mouth parted as if to say something but there was no sound. She took a deep breath in and slowly let it out, finding her voice again. "He's.. dead.. You're not one of those.. things.." Jaime stared at her brother's friend as if awed or maybe not believing she was really seeing him.

Reminded about those things, he remembered that was why he was here, too. He stared a moment, blinking back the shock and trying to let the information sink in but not too deep. Not Jorden... f**k! He let the bat go and turned to smash the case with the metal rod in the brief moment of anguish he'd allow himself. He couldn't afford to let it get to him, not right now. "Psh, noooo," he started, defensively, sarcastically, though his heart wasn't in it to be completely snide. "If I was do you think I would've just broken the glass and not your head? C'mon... those 'things'... aren't far off."

The sarcasm she recalled and that was why she had only 'kind of' liked him, that and being seen as the kid sister, which meant tugged hair and being teased. "It wasn't exactly a question.. it was a statement.." She spoke quietly, looking down into the case, thinking of Jorden and actually missing being picked on by him and his friends. "Where are 'we' going?" She asked as she reached into the case and picked up a box of ammo, shaking the broken glass off.

"Grab whatever you can shove in this that's useful and we're going someplace safer than this," he said flatly as he pulled a duffel from the case for each of them and started piling in gear and ammo.

"Okay.. but why are you in charge?" She took the bag and started filling it, moving quickly and complying with what he'd told her to do despite questioning his 'authority'. She glanced at him now and then, chewing her lower lip and wondering what he was thinking and how he'd made it this long or gotten this far.

Galen paused to look around them, hands out and an eyebrow cocked - it had to be one of them and he was just used to following his own ideas. "You got suggestions? Let's hear 'em. Got someplace in mind? Oh, and that little thing about those things? I left a little party about a block away."

She was defensive and tired and cranky. "You don't have to be a jerk, I was just asking. I did get this far, didn't I? So you know at least give me a little credit.. I'm not a complete idiot. I could say someplace safer than this like you did." She shrugged but her eyes darted to the front and back of the shop and he might notice the fear in them at his mention of those things. Those things had attacked her family, turned her parents and killed her brother in fighting them off.. Jaime shivered slightly with the memory. "Okay. my bag is full.. let's go.." She zipped up her bag which was indeed full of ammo and weapons.

He finished filling his own, putting the crowbar in and closing it, prepping a rifle for his other hand now. "I am giving you credit. You're here, Jorden's not. I'll pay my respects when we both make it through this. How close were you talking about for safer?" Keeping the rifle ready, he grabbed hold of the satchel.

Jaime sighed softly but it was more like letting out a deep breath and trying to keep herself focused. "The minimart about a block up, thats sort of where I've been crashing the past few nights. It's all boarded up and has those metal gate things." She pointed in the direction she meant, using the hand which held the bat in a firm grip. It might not be as effective as the rifles but it was Jorden's and she wasn't letting it go.

"Great - perfect," he agreed, though he wasn't giddy and excited about getting there from here. That was still a lot of ground to cover. "That's closer. We'll try that first. So... that makes you in charge. Let's go."

"Great." There wasn't really any excitement to her voice at being in charge. She didn't dally and simply turned to head out the door, stopping to look outside before she actually pushed the door open. Jaime slowly and cautiously moved out into the open of the sidewalk from the semi protection of the store. She gave another look around then started to move quickly in the direction of the minimart, her head shifting a little as her eyes kept moving around, looking for other movement and signs of 'those things'.

Jaime closed and locked the door once they were in the mini mart and let out a soft sigh of relief as she turned to look around inside to make sure nothing had been disturbed. Her right hand rubbed at her left uppser arm, a bag full of weapons and ammo was pretty heavy, the bag was on the floor where she'd set it down, near the door, in order to get it relocked. The noises from outside were blocked, along with most of the light, by the thick shatter proof glass and the large boards which had been screwed into the metal frames. Her uncle had owned the place and had done a good job of securing it when the word of riots and possible evacuation came. Too bad that hadn't saved him..

Jaime didn't say anything as she quietly moved around the small store, checking to make sure nothing had gotten in from anywhere else, the back door was heavy and locked but she felt better, to see it still closed and that there was no sign of anything besides herself... and now Galen inside.

[Lovely]

"Hey, easy with that," he said sternly as she set down the heavy pack. He'd seen his share of misfires and hoped not to have one in this confined area. "Rule one, it's always loaded.... even if it's still in the box," he shrugged a little, realizing he probably didn't need to tell her that - she'd grown up wiht Jorden afterall, and he wasn't stupid with his guns.

The glare he got would also tell him he didn't need to talk to her like she didn't know anything. She hadn't been rough with the bag but had just set it down.. a little heavily but the thing was.. Jaime stopped herself before she opened her mouth to spew at him, reminding herself that they were both probably tired, stressed, and on edge. She still glared at him a little, tilting her chin up, just so. "I'm not a little girl, you know." It was stated like a fact more than as a smart remark, maybe he hadn't noticed she wasn't thirteen anymore.

"Yeah. I kinda got that," Galen muttered, watching her reactions along with the rest of her now that they weren't surrounded by racks and cases, or crazy drooling zomboid freaks... for now. He put his own pack down for something to draw his attention away, and to see what he'd actually grabbed. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? About Jorden."

"Don't.." She couldn't say anything else, it was like all the air left for a moment and she just stood there. "Don't.." She tried again but she couldn't find words to even express what it felt like. "Just don't.." She whispered, turning away from him and leaning on the counter, trying to just breathe in and out. Jaime had worshipped her brother and to lose him in the manner she did, it was reason enough for her to consider taking one of the guns to herself and ending it all right then and there.

"Don't what? Wish to god I could say he's coming back? Say I'm sorry this whole thing pisses me off? Say I'm glad as f**k that you're here? Yeah well... don't tell me don't, okay? I'm just sorry and this may be the only chance I get to say it... and that I noticed... that you're... well, that you don't have the pigtails anymore."

"Yes, that is exactly what I meant.." She spoke in a voice that cracked and sounded strained, her back to him for several moments as she fought all the emotions and the grief that tried to over take her with his words reminding her and hammering each point deeper into her heart with the searing pain of all that had happened. Jaime pushed off the counter and went to one of the cooler doors, the soft clank of glass bottles was heard and then she approached him with two bottles of beer in her hands, holding out one for him as she came up next to where he was crouched looking at what he'd grabbed for weapons.

Galen looked up at the bottle, then up to her, a smile nearly crossing his face as he took the offered drink and stood up with a handful of cartridges to load the rifle and a pocket. "Can I see some ID, miss? I'm joking... I'm joking... don't kick me or whatever. Thank you."

"I'm almost laughing." She murmured quietly, thinking of kicking him but deciding she wasn't really in the mood for it. "You're welcome." Jaime nodded and her eyes moved over him. "For what it's worth.. it's.. nice to see you.. you look good. .. and I'm glad you're not dead or one of those things." With that she twisted off the cap of her beer and ever so lightly touched it against his before tipping it back to take a long drink from it.

This time he did smirk as he opened his bottle, finding the situation a little ironic, considering the number of times he kidded Jordy about getting his little sister drunk, once upon a time. "For what it's worth," he smiled, taking a sip of his and mopping his forehead with the cool glass. "That's worth a mint right there. Could just about kill for a long shower and about a dozen more of these."

"Well if you mean it.." She began after studying him for a few more moments. "My uncle had an apartment upstairs.. I sort of felt safer down here.. a little more solid and secure.. being by myself and all.." She explained with a slight shrug. "If the electricity is on down here.. it's reasonable to believe it's on upstairs too.. I was only up there for a few minutes.. " She stopped herself with a hard bite to her lower lip before she rambled on endlessly, it seemed like forever since she'd really had anyone to talk to.

[Lovely]

Galen set the beer down and picked up the rifle again, checking it over quickly then reloading it. "A few minutes can be a few minutes too long these days." He put the chunk of metal down and chugged through the rest of his beer before pulling his bag up off the floor. The bottle wasn't left for scrap, however. It could be a weapon in a pinch if they needed it. "After you. Let's go."

There was a small stock room which also had a corner that served as the office for the small business, though it had done well under her uncle's ownership. He'd lived upstairs to keep his personal bills down and give himself more money for other things. Over next to his desk was the door which led up to the apartment, with her bat in hand, Jaime led the way. The key was on a hook next to the desk and she grabbed it before peeking through the window to make sure the stairwell was clear. Her uncle had been a smart man and he'd boarded up the outside windows in the apartment as well, he'd probably be alive if he hadn't come to their house to try to help them..

The door hinge needed to be oiled and made a soft noise as it was opened and the stairs creaked quietly under her feet as she went up carefully into the sparse but comfortable living area. It was mostly open space other than the bathroom and you could pretty much see the whole place from any angle.

Galen glanced at the door hinges, seeming to memorize the sound, watching up the stairs beyond her. Oiling the hinge might prove useful to keep from alerting others, but it could serve as an alarm for themselves just as well. He pulled the pack over his shoulder again and checked the rifle, turning to guard behind them as they went up, shuddering and trying to shake the feeling that he was being watched. The feeling hadn't gone away for days now. He reached for anything to use as a door at the top as the room opened for them, hoping to keep anything at the stairs deterred that extra second they might need at some point. "Nice. Boarded up, that's good to know. These face the street or the alley?" He pointed to the covered windows.

"Yeah.." Jaime said with that sadness seeming to linger in her voice as she looked around the apartment. "Um.. those on that side face the alley and those there.. the street, that side is the street too but the sign kind of blocks the view." She pointed to the coordinating walls and sets of windows as she spoke. Jai cleared her throat softly and motioned to the one area that was seperated off into a private room. "That's the bathroom, it faces the alley."

"Fire escapes still work? Just don't like feeling cornered, you know?" He went over to look in the bathroom, rifle first through the door and looking around at the offerings, popping open the cabinets for anything useful for first aid or make-shift weaponry. "This is good... Really good," he nodded, pleased as he held up a handful of white plastic bottles and wadded bandaging material.

"As far as I know they do. Uncle Joey might have been kind of thrifty I guess you call it, but he was thorough and he was smart. He took care of stuff and built things to last.." She was walking slowly through the open space as she spoke to Galen turning as he came back out of the bathroom. She smiled and shook her head. "You're not planning to try to tie me up are you?" She teased just a little, her eyebrow arching up at what he'd found, though she realized the bandages would be useful. "I'm sure there is more down in the shop too."

He looked at the bottles. "With aspirin? No. After another beer or five, who knows. Could get kinda crazy," he teased. It was tough knowing she was still Jorden's little sister, bat and all, but man, once she put that thought in his head... He cleared his throat to change the subject... mostly. "We'll check the shop in a while. I want to keep things quiet for a while and hope nothing followed us this far. You know how to use one of these?" He reached the rifle out to her to take while he stocked his back with the small pharmacy.

"Galen honey the world already went crazy, you're a little behind in the game if you need five beers to catch up." She grinned as she gently took the rifle into a steady hand and turned so it wasn't pointing at him as she raised it up and looked down the barrell as if about to fire it. "I'm better shot than.. I'm a decent shot."

[Lovely]

"Decent and fast is perfect," he said, sensing what she thought about saying. It was hard on him realizing how many people he'd lost, too. He didn't come from a small family, but all of them were fighters in their own right and he hadn't seen any of them since the outbreak began, all of them going on their own to survive.. like himself. "Wouldn't want one of nasties to attack me in the shower or anything," he grinned.

She lowered the gun and turned over her shoulder, her gaze going down then back up over Galen, a half smile tugged at her lips. "Hmm maybe I should stand in the doorway and keep watch.. keep a very careful eye on .. things. Wouldn't want anything sneaking up on you.. of course I'd expect you to return the favor. I'll watch yours, you'll watch mine?"

"Deal... though... I think I'm going to need that other beer," he said, trying not to get his thoughts too clouded until he felt a little safer.

"Try the door of the fridge before you.. hop in the shower." She almost said get naked but that put an all too nice and very distracting image in her head. Jaime licked her lips and shifted the rifle up against her shoulder, checking the safety and trying not to think about Galen's a**.. or his other parts. To be honest she'd rather think about that than what had happened here in town and from what she'd seen on the news before it hit here, the same thing had happened everywhere.

"Anything you want?" He shrugged and left the pack by the bathroom door to check the fridge and small kitchen area. If they could hole up here it had pretty much everything they needed as long as the electricity held out. Food could be an issue soon regardless. He hadn't seen much other than cans of cheap kid's spaghetti, but it had gotten him by. The fridge had the beer and maybe they'd be lucky to find more in town in the next day or two, possibly other survivors or some sign that this plague was ending.

There were many things she wanted but so few he could give her or help her with, she just watched him for a moment with a sad smile before shaking her head a little. Honestly, right then the fact that he was there it was more than she'd hoped for and she was just grateful for that. "I don't want anything right now.. thanks."

He pulled two of the remaining beers out and offered her one this time although she hadn't finished the other one. "Keep it in mind for later, whatever it is. When we get out of this, I think it'll be d**n well earned... not that ... well you know. Anything you fight for this hard is deserved, so that's not really what I mean. Anyway, if you've got my back, I'm using that shower - that's what I really want right now."

"Yeah go on.." She said quietly, nodding toward the door as she took the beer from him. "Thanks." She chuckled softly, thinking about what he said about deserving and fighting hard, her eyes stayed on him for a few moments as the thoughts tumbled into her others. She wondered what the future might hold, would it always be fighting just to get through the day alive?

As she'd always known him, he wasn't the most shy guy on the planet and he was making it clear that he didn't want to wear the shirt he had on another minute, throwing his jacket down on his pack and pulling the stale shirt off his shoulders. "If I had a choice, I'd burn it," he said, looking at the small holes and unforgiving stains on it. Instead of tossing it, he hauled it and a rolled-up clean shirt with him as far as the sink at least. His bared back showed some of the signs of near misses and no-so-missed battering he'd taken to make it this far. Running soapy water in the sink, he listened to the pipes and hoped the insulation of the building would hide the noises. He dumped the dirty shirt in the sink and came back to lean at the doorway. "For what it's worth, like you said earlier... thanks, okay?"

[Lovely]

Jaime had her open beer in her hand as he came back, she'd seen the marks on him before she'd turned away and it bothered her a little more than she expected it would. It wasn't like she didn't have her own share but she also hadn't really looked at herself in.. days, weeks? Sometimes it felt like even longer. She turned back at his voice and gently lifted her bottle a bit as if silently toasting him before tipping it back to drink down half of what was left. "Thank me later when you're clean and feel a little better.. at least for that.. and you better hurry on in there before I knock you out of the way and make a break for the shower myself."

"Who says I'd stop you?" He chuckled and grabbed a few more things from a pouch in his bag, intending to make an attempt at being and feeling more presentable. He stood and looked at the stairs, reminding her - not like he had to - to keep watch. "Rifle? I mean... while you're watching my back and all...?"

"I got it.. I'm on it.. go shower before you annoy me enough to make forget how happy I am you're alive and end up beating the snot out of you or at the very least giving you the wedgie from hell. Shoo.. you're stinking up the place." She teased him, but let him know she was watching, and blew him a kiss as she moved closer to the stairs, leaning on the back of the couch. She didn't quite sit but seemed comfortable enough for the duration of her shower watch.

"Nice," he scowled, looking down at himself. He wasn't that bad off considering the reek of the infected and the remains in the streets that made him gag thinking about it. He gave her the point of a finger and another scowl. "No wedgies. I don't care if you don't have pigtails anymore, I'm not above cutting them off. I'll just be in here." He started to back up to the hollow of the small bath room again.

"Ohhhh I'd love for you to try.. the boy thinks he can handle me, huh? Mmm we'll see.. we'll see.." She regarded him with one eyebrow arched, a spark of challenge in her eyes. She sipped at her beer and watched him back up into the small bathroom.

"I didn't say how I was planning on handling you, did I?" He shook his head. The banter was nice, like old times, but without Jorden, it lacked the fun it once had. Maybe after the shower he'd feel better. Just getting the muck-stiffened shirt off his shoulders helped. He was back into the recess of the bathroom, looking for light that wouldn't get them noticed.

"Handle with care.. I'm.. fragile.." She chuckled a bit but the humor was only half there, she was more fragile than she liked to admit. Now she'd let it slip jokingly but what if he saw it in her? How scared she was, how she was barely holding on.. how much it hurt inside? Jaime swallowed and looked away from the bathroom, taking a sip of her beer and concentrating on keeping watch until Galen finished his shower.

He was only half-way done, his hair dripping in his eyes and his shaving done quickly, but some of the layers were still sloughing away when he darted back to the door. "What was that? I thought I heard something." He wasn't playing mean or teasing. The look on his face, it was clear what he thought, but whether it was real was another story. He leaned at the doorway more concerned about her than his lack of covering as he mopped the water out of his eyes with a brush of his hand. "You're okay?"

When her head turned toward him, there were tears in her eyes and on her cheeks.. she was caught off guard, but not by any outside danger. "I... what was what?" She wiped the evidence away though it was too late to deny she'd been crying, her head shook a little. "I didn't hear anything."

"Okay that answers my first question, but not the second one. Are you okay?" No, she wasn't, but neither was he really. He was hearing things now and everything was a threat, it seemed.

[Lovely]

Jaime stared at him for a moment, her head shook a small no, she wasn't alright but, her mouth formed words to tell him she was. "I'm fine.. poked myself in the eye.. " It was a total lie and a bad one, he'd know it too. "It's okay, go finish your shower." Her eyes stayed on his face, with effort, despite the tears and her upset.. she had noticed his lack of cover.

He looked over at the entryway and back to her. Both of them had to get over fearing every creak of sound and glimmer of light. They'd made it this far and he'd be damned if he was going to live in complete fear... nearly complete fear was good enough. "Rinse it out. I'm almost done," he said, reaching out for her to come closer.

At first she was confused as to what he meant and then she realized, a small chuckled came out and she moved toward him, reaching for his hand or his arm, something for comfort. "Are you sure? I don't want you to feel rushed." The closer she got to him the faster she seemed to move, as if running to him for safety, it was pretty obvious she needed to be closer to him.

"I'm sure," he laughed a bit in return, realizing in his rush that he was dripping grey puddles over the floor. "Too late for rushed. Let me just finish up." She was close then closer still, not seeming to mind that he was wet all over still.

"Okay.." She stopped just shy of wrapping around him or throwing herself into his arms.. she hadn't realized how lonely she'd been, how scared, or how lost until he showed up. She hadn't let herself think about it really but with another person so close, one who wasn't crazy and trying to kill her, a voice she knew and a smile that had always given her butterflies.. it was almost enough to make her believe she was dreaming or going mad. "Don't rush on my account.." Her eyes couldn't help but glance down, she blushed a little as she caught herself and lifted her gaze again. "I think I may jump in when you're done.." She had to close her eyes for a second to keep from peeking at him again.

He frowned with a thought, a realization that maybe she shouldn't wait. Watching her look him over confirmed that thought completely. She was distracted and either way he was getting cold, or should have been, though he didn't feel it. He pointed back at the stall with his thumb. "Why wait? Seriously. Waiting for Miss Manners to answer that question? It'll save some time, some noise, some water... and...," he shrugged and the smile peeked out a little though no blush was to be found. "It'll even the odds a little here."

Her blush warmed her face to a darker shade and of course the gaze that she was trying to keep decent, lowered again. "Damn it.." She whispered, followed by a soft chuckle as she turned her head. "You just want to get me naked.." She had to tease him or die of embarrassment! Jaime puckered a kiss to the air next to his cheek as she slid into the bathroom around him. ".. and you're right about everything.. sooo.." She took in a deep breath as she started to undress, the rifle propped carefully just inside the door. Her shirt came off first and she motioned him to go ahead and get back in. "No reason for you to get cold... unless.. you want to keep an eye on me.." Her teeth caught her lower lip as she worked herself out of her shoes and the rest of her clothes.

"Have been for a few years already... just a lot closer now is all," he admitted, as he danced back around her, brushing her shoulder with his palm and stopping, turning from behind her to whisper. "And there're some things you're right about. This was one of them," he said, letting his hand slip further down her arm.

Her eyes fluttered as he touched her, his hand gliding gently against her skin, she'd had a few dreams of him doing that.. Her face turned so she could meet his gaze, she wondered if he'd think she was right to lean in and kiss him. She'd find out in a moment if he pushed her away or pulled her closer.

He didn't seem to annoy her as much as she'd let on. She turned with a kiss when he'd been expecting an elbow in the stomach or her boot heel digging into his foot. Instead, he tasted the faint taste of the beer and the tears she'd been letting loose. Galen slid his hand beneath her chin, brushing her cheek with his thumb. He smiled and drew back a little. "We should... um... get... "

She nodded and started to lean toward his lips, holding herself back and slowly stepping toward the shower, her hand sliding to the nape of his neck to keep him close. "..in.. we should.." She finished for him, agreed with him, and gently coaxed him back toward the warm spray of water that would soothe them both.. but what she really wanted and needed was another kiss from him. For a moment the monsters melted away, the pain and hurt, the trauma of it all faded to the edges, though she was still aware of the sounds outside the room. The danger was there but this was.. everything. What was the point of fighting and living without a connection, without any passion? Humans needed physical comfort like they needed food and water, Jaime was asking for and offering it to Galen. He was her first crush, a young girl's fantasy which had grown with her into the woman she was.. he still had a starring role in her dreams now and then.

[Lovely]

"It's going to be fine, you know. Just fine," he muttered, taking a deep breath and another kiss that was as fine as the promise he'd given her. He stepped back into the warm mist with her though he still listened for anything beyond the door. Jorden would rip his lungs out for this.

The warm spray hit her skin and she gasped out a delighted sigh at the forgotten and simple bliss of a shower. Something which had once been so ordinary was now a luxury and even better Galen was here with her.. she almost missed his promise and her gaze swept over his face. "No.. I didn't know that.. not till just now." Her voice was soft, her eyes showing a shimmer of tears that she blinked away to show him only her small smile as she reached for another kiss.

The water tickled his nose and he chuckled against the kiss. "And before 'just now'? C'mon, think positive. I'm here, we'll get through this," he said close to her ear, grabbing the small bar of soap to help the worries bubble off and away.

"There was nothing before just now.. " She whispered back, leaning against him a little, her head on his shoulder for a moment of comfort while he started to lather her with the bit of soap. He might feel her smile and her hands drifted up over his arms, tracing the contour of muscle in his lean form. "I swear this is the weirdest dream I've ever had about you.." She murmured the words as if maybe she really thought she was dreaming this all.

"What, more than one? What's that about? Other than I wish this was only a dream... well the part about what's out there, not what's in here. You're not dreaming, Jaime," he said, looking over her shoulder, down the length of tangled wet hair to the pillows of foam rolling down her back. He massaged lightly against the knots that seemed to be all that was holding her together as she melted against him. "I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a dream or two with you in it. That cheerleader outfit... man, that was something. Those times were something. Kinda wish we were all back there again."

"It's about you walking around my house in your boxers.. sleeping in the next room and listening to your voice and laugh through the wall while you joked and bonded with my brother.. about wishing I was a few years older so you'd look at me the way you looked at.. other girls." She never would have dared to say anything like that to him before, but with the world falling apart around them it just seemed pointless to pretend. "I didn't know you ever saw me as anything more than 'the little sister'.. " She laughed a little. "I used to keep the uniform on after games for longer than I needed to.. just hoping you would notice. I wish we were back then.. that none of this horrible stuff had to happen.. though I think I'd like to keep this part right here." Her hand slid over his arm again and she looked up at him with a slight smile. "You're much better in person than in a dream."

"It's true," he agreed with his usual sarcasm. He bit it back just as he'd said it. "I'm sorry. I meant this, it's all better in person, makes it real and a little less scary than feeling like I'm gonna get my balls shredded for even thinking or dreaming about this in the first place. Did you... you seriously ... hoping I'd notice? Oh, I noticed all right."

He bit back his sarcasm but that didn't stop Jaime from taking a gentle bite of his shoulder, giggling softly as she did. If he turned, he would see she was also trying to hide a deep blush as she answered him. "Really.. really.. " She sighed, groaning a bit at admitting it all, but it was really too late now. "Yeah I even got one of those.. bras to try to enhance what.. I didn't have as much of then.. not that I'm over stocked now.." She glanced down at herself and sighed, thinking of the curvier girls she'd always been jealous of, the kind she'd seen Jorden and Galen looking at or dating. "You.. you really noticed? You're not just saying that to make me feel better? Not that you would.. but.. why didn't you ever.. say anything.. or try anything.. or god, just grab me and kiss me?"

"I guess I didn't think I needed to. You were always there and there was always the next game or the next party or the dance. God, if I could take back senior prom... that was a disaster. Jorden would have ripped me a new one if I even joked about that, though. He always looked out for you," he said, jumping only a little against the nip on his shoulder but curling around her more.

[Lovely]

Her hands shifted around his waist and up to rest over the back of his shoulders. "It would have only hurt for a little while.. he'd have gotten over it.. I remember wishing cupid would shoot you in the ass and you'd realize you needed to ask me to the prom. I guess he didn't get the message for that one." She chuckled and shook her head a little. "If I had any idea that you.. well I might have kissed you. I was too scared to approach you like that. I figured you'd just make fun of me and torment me relentlessly about it if I ever dared say I liked you."

"Well, I probably still would have made fun, at least on the outside. Appearances and all that shit... but it doesn't mean I didn't care. And I confess. I liked the pigtails. But they wouldn't have gone with the tux. I see now that I was wrong. Takes a big man to admit that, you know. And as soon as I find one, I'll let him beat the crap out of me for ever letting myself tell you that."

"Haha. I'll save you some time and beat the crap out of you myself." She tilted her head back a little to wink at him and show him the playful smile. "Alright.. how about we agree to not worry about appearances.. and just.. care about.. each other..? We can still tease one another when the need arises."

"Deal. But about need... yeah, pretend I wasn't just about to take a straight line." He moved the soap over her without saying anything else to tease or taunt. The water was getting cooler now with use. "We should hurry."

She smiled again, another chuckle coming out as she slowly nodded, she hadn't even realized how she'd said what she had.. but now that he mentioned it.. Her mind churned and she shifted slightly, offering him room to move to soap over her front. "Well you seem to be the one in charge of the suds, guess that means you'll have to let me know when I'm clean enough.." She noticed the change in the water temperature and that it was starting to cool off, hopefully the power would last long enough for them to be able to enjoy another shower later. For now she was grateful for this one and for him being there.

"Clean enough for what?" He let her think about that a little more, paying attention to the soap and the diminishing warmth. "Just remember this since we may not get a chance again for a while. Think of it... like chocolate."

Her smile turned slightly wicked, her brow arching as she reached down to pull his hands and the soap away, letting the water rince the suds. She let him wonder for only a moment and then countered his chocolate comment with a question. "Well which would you rather have to lick off your fingers.. chocolate or me?" She stepped out of the tub with a slight giggle, looking over her shoulder as she started to towel off, holding out one for him as hers slipped to the floor. "Chocolate is down in the shop.. I'll be up here.. "

"You or... In the shop, you say? You know... considering everything going on out there, why spend the extra energy making decisions on the little things? I mean why choose one over the other?" Looking her over as the suds flowed away, he was having a hard time deciding against doing anything where they were as she stepped away to towel. "I've... um... shaving, first... then... do you like milk or dark?"

She just gazed at him for a moment silently before she turned to walk out of the bathroom. They had left the door open and she paused, listening for anything amiss, satisfied that all was quiet for now, she glanced back over to Galen. "Both actually.. why don't you surprise me." With that she sauntered out of the room, bare as the day she was born. She picked up her bat, setting it where it would be easily reached if she needed it and meandered around the apartment.

[Lovely]

"Surprise you?" He muttered, catching his breath and not noticing how cold the water was getting on his back as she wandered away in full view. He mopped the water from his eyes and face, another double-take to try and catch another glimpse if she passed the doorway again. He reached out for the razor and did the best he could as he lost the steam to work with, suffering a few knicks for the distraction though he hardly noticed until he toweled himself off. He'd be damned, and he probably already was, but he wasn't going down into the shop half naked or unarmed. The clean t-shirt was pulled on, his hair slicked back, everything down to boots put back on though he left them loosely laced with ideas for a quick return and picking up where their chat had left off. "Last man on earth and I'm thinking I don't mind a bit," he said, perhaps louder than he meant to as he rolled up the soiled heaps of old clothes with the intention of incinerating them in the morning.

He might have caught a glimpse or two of her slinky form as she moved through the apartment, everything was open but the bathroom and she wasn't trying to hide. The shy 'little girl' had gone on vacation for a bit with the knowledge that her crush liked her back. When Galen came out to go run for the snacks, he'd find Jaime sitting in the chair that faced the bathroom and the stairs. In full view, still completely naked, her legs crossed, bat resting next to her, on watch. She hoped he'd appreciate her search for the elastics which held her hair up in cute pig tails very much like the ones she'd come home from games or cheer practice in. Of course without the uniform the effect might be a little different, she smiled wickedly at him as he emerged. "Did you say something?" She asked innocently, letting one finger twirl the tip of a slightly wavy ponytail.

More beer. He was going to need more beer if he was going to be able to relax enough to truly enjoy all of this. The bat was a less than subtle reminder that relaxation wasn't really an option. "Daaamn... what? Oh. No, nothing, not a thing. I like the um..," he waved his fingers over the top of his head and pointed, not finding the words 'pigtails' appropriate considering the rest of the unobstructed view that he was having trouble not noticing now more than ever. The tiny, tight sweater and shorter than sin skirt of her uniform barely did justice to the figure without them. "Maaaan, that is such a shame."

She was pleased with his reaction to her surprise and though her expression didn't change much from it's playful yet sultry tone, her eyes lit up. Jaime licked her lips slowly, tilting her head to the side just a bit, her legs shifting just slightly. "What's a shame?" She asked softly, lowering her lashes a little and biting gently at her lower lip to add to the effect of her current pose. Part of it was teasing but part of it was just her genuine reaction to seeing him look at her like that. For years she'd longed to have him turn and.. well pretty much exactly what he was doing now.

"To have worn that uniform so much longer... hiding all that. Sue me, I'm human, and that's.... did I say daaaamn?" He was having a harder time now backing away, getting the gun and getting down into the shop for supplies and the sweets with that much sweet and sass sitting right there. He took a deep breath, though it rattled with a bit of nerves. "Okay. You made your point. I'll... I'll be right back." He didn't want to go, but time wasn't a luxury or a toy they could play with safely.

The poise of her face crumbled into a sweet and nearly shy smile at his compliments and continued gaze, her eyes lifted to meet his and her cheeks warmed with a slight blush. "I'm.. glad you like it.." She giggled a little but her gaze moved over him and then returned to his face. "Try to hurry .. okay?" She knew they needed to get at least a few things up here to get them through the night, even if it was only chocolate and each other.

[Lovely]

************

They lay tangled and curled together on the bed, the conversation brief words and teases they tossed back and forth with smiles and whispers.

"brat and friend... "

"and more.... puller of pig tails"

"yeah... well pull this... you're good at that... very... and i'm good with pigtails"

"what if I don't want to do that again?" smiles

shrugs "guess we'll have to find something else to do, then"

"one thing's for sure... i know i can trust you with the rifle now"

"though I did like how you handled the pigtails this time.." kisses his shoulder

"yeah... i'm going to hell for sure... hey, bring that over here."

"Mmm good news is, I'm going with you.. " makes a slow path with kisses from his shoulder to his lips.

"We might be there already. Couldn't ask for better company," he admitted, smiling at the chills her kisses sent over his skin. His attention was divided but he didn't want it to be. "MMmm... we're going to have to go soon."

"Go where?" She asked him with an arched brow as she gently pulled back to see his face. She was comfortable and for a short blissful time with him, she hadn't been scared out of her mind. She wanted to try to hold onto that at least a little.

"Out. Out there, look for answers, get supplies.. fuel... more food. This is a great set-up, Jaime, but c'mon. Damn... a great set-up, but we can't hide in here forever," he said, sighing and leaning back. "Reality f*cking sucks."

"Yeah.. it really does." She said quietly with a sigh as she rolled away from him and looked for her clothes which were nowhere near them. She opted to not worry about it and simply stood up as bare as she'd been since their shower earlier.

He watched her move away. Great.. was he stupid? "Jaime, c'mon. Come back here. I'm just thinking out loud. If we run out, or if you get hurt ... I mean if anything happens to you, .... okay, or to me.. I want to make sure we're ready for it, okay?"

She spun, her hands set on her hips and her mouth in a slightly scowling pout that had brought many men to their knees without her even trying to do so. She shook her head a little and sighed, fighting with herself and all the things going on inside her that had her on edge and had little to do with Galen. "Fine okay so we need a plan and to take preventative measures.. stock up.. but do we have to rush out right now.. can't we even enjoy a few minutes of not being miserable together?"

"Eventually, soon, I didn't say right now. I really ... really don't want to go out anywhere. Like I said, I'm just thinking out loud," he said, falling prey to the pout he wanted to kiss away. He followed after her to pull her back beside him. "Hopefully this hasn't been miserable. Hm? C'mon."

"Mmm... maybe.." She slowly shifted back and let him pull her to him again. "Wasn't miserable.. till you started talking about having to go and.." Jaime sighed again sliding her legs along his so she was somewhat in his lap and close to his chest.

"Maybe I was just pulling your pigtails," he chuckled, curling his arm around her. "This is better than going anywhere. I'll worry about what's out there, you worry about not being miserable, hm? How's this?" He reached out for the kiss to keep her worries away.

[Lovely]

June 26, 2007
10pm


There was enough food in the mini mart below them to keep them from going hungry for awhile and there had been nothing to disturb them or send them running today, so they had remained in the apartment upstairs and enjoyed the comforts of each other. Jaime now sat with her her foot on the chair, her knee bent, her arm curled around her leg, and her chin resting on her knee. She stared out at the street, watching the things move around, during the day there hadn't been noises or reason to be concerned. There was reason for concern now, but not panic. None of the things even came close to the shop, she watched them wander and attack each other, tense and ready if any turned this way. She had turned off all the lights downstairs and up here as well, keeping them almost invisible to those who roamed below. They didn't seem attracted to the noise of the freezers or fridges that ran in the mart below, so what did attract them to attack? If she could figure that out, it would go far in helping to know how to protect against them.